DOUBLE WIN FOR LEXUS RC F GT3 TEAMS

Lexus RC F GT3 teams have won both races in the latest round of Europe's International GT Open series at Belgium's famous Spa-Francorchamps circuit.

Lexus has now won the first four races in the seven-round, 14-race series.

Spanish/Swiss pair Alberto Costa/Philipp Frommenwiler triumphed in hot, sunny conditions while German brothers Dominik and Mario Farnbacher were victorious a day later in a rain-affected race.

Across the border in Germany, a Lexus RC F GT3 (Iguchi Takuto/Gamo Naoyo/Yabuki Hisashi) finished second in class in the annual 24-Hour race on the full Nuerburgring Nordschleife circuit.

Surprisingly, Dominik Farnbacher was able to compete in both meetings, driving a couple of stints at The Ring before winning at Spa.

The Farnbacher brothers now lead the International GT Open Series by five points.

Costa led from pole position in the earlier race and, after a driver change, Frommenwiler emerged from the pits with a nine-second lead over his closest rivals in a BMW. He maintained that lead to the end.

The complexion of the second race at Spa changed dramatically when heavy rain struck the upper part of the 7km circuit after most of the driver changes and some crews chose to keep racing on dry weather tyres.

A late-race accident forced the deployment of the safety car and triggered an eight-minute sprint to the finish, with Andrea Fontana (Lamborghini) narrowly leading Dominik Farnbacher.

The two cars touched at the famed La Source hairpin, briefly allowing Piergiuseppe Perazzini (Ferrari) into the lead.

But Farnbacher fought back to win the race for Lexus.

The next round is at Circuit Paul Ricard in the south of France on June 10-11.